During a visit to a training center for intellectually disabled in China's biggest city Shanghai on the National Day, Hu chatted with Chinese and foreign disabled people and joined them in outdoor games, wishing them to make more progress in physical exercise and mental recovery.

He praised the teachers at the training center for providing special education to the intellectually disabled and helping them better involved in the society. In this way, the teachers have contributed to building a harmonious society, he said.

"You are undertaking a career that brings happiness and hope to the intellectually disabled people and their families," the president told the teachers.

Hu also met with Greek athletes at the center who are going to participate in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games to be opened in Shanghai on Tuesday.

To hold the Special Olympic Games is an opportunity for the promotion of humanitarian spirit in China, Hu said.

On Monday afternoon, Hu visited a local chemical factory and a radio research institute, and listened to the reports on the city's economic and social development.

The president made the visit in the company of Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, State Councilor Chen Zhili, Shanghai's Communist Party chief Xi Jinping and Mayor Han Zheng.